Bearing Light

Maybe deserves a little higher rating but it's very unique and may not appeal to everyone. Marlin & Barrel is a small boutique distillery on Amelia Island in Florida. They offer a locally sourced silver rum which is ok. This caught my interest at a tour and tasting enough to bring a bottle home. A basic Florida sugar cane silver rum fused with a Vanilla bean Espresso. The Espresso compliments and helps pull the vanilla out of the rum. The deep espresso flavor works well with the rum. Not so strong that it hides the rum.

Just before driving to Fernandina Beach for a boat trip, beaches, bars, and hiking, I found out about this craft distillery in the downtown area. Knowing that I would not have time to visit it during my stay, I picked up a bottle of their Amber Rum at the local ABC Fine Wine And Spirits store and finished it off in a few days.

I was impressed with their Amber Rum, but had my doubts about their white rum since I rarely prefer a distiller's white over their darker rums. So on my second visit to The Palace Saloon downtown, this white rum was available. I ordered a shot of it neat. Wow! The aroma was incredible, but I could not put my finger on what it was. The taste was like no other white rum that I had tried. Then I realized that it was filtered molasses with an underlying funk. End of story!